A nine-car ladder is one of the few that sees the #1 and #2 qualifiers meeting in
the semifinals. That's because they have both had a bye run before getting to this round, so the bye goes to the #1 qualifier

It
looked like both had problems, Houghtaling slowing immediately, obviously broken. Sharp also slowed, not long after. He might have
been reacting to Houghtaling's problems (a broken ring and pinion).